Gold Baby, Kids' and Children's Products Design · 2022
Zulu Two Heir Mountain Bike for Kids
- A' Design Award 2022 Gold Winner in Baby, Kids' and Children's Products Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- CLIENT: Prevelo Bikes
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 60,807
- Verification code 33DC596E6C · Verify this award
About Zulu Two Heir Mountain Bike for Kids
Zulu Two Heir is a 16-inch hardtail mountain bicycle designed for very young riders on trails. The long wheelbase and slack geometry are forgiving to children who are still learning to ride on trails. A low bottom bracket and short crank lengths keep the rider close to the ground while supporting good pedaling ergonomics. The frame is made of 6061 aluminum alloy, and hydraulic disc brakes give simple and strong stopping. The air fork is made for 16-inch wheels, uses carbon fiber and aluminum to limit weight, and can be adjusted for light riders.
Within the contemporary landscape of youth-oriented recreational equipment design, the Zulu Two Heir Mountain Bike for Kids by Prevelo Bikes emerges as an exemplar of thoughtful engineering scaled to accommodate developing riders while refusing to compromise on performance specifications typically reserved for adult equipment. The work demonstrates sophisticated understanding of ergonomic requirements specific to children's evolving physical capabilities, evident in the carefully calibrated frame geometry that positions young riders in an efficient, comfortable stance conducive to both confidence-building and skill development. Technical analysis reveals notable commitment to weight reduction through aluminum construction, addressing the critical ratio between equipment mass and rider body weight that significantly impacts handling characteristics and rider fatigue during extended use. The integration of front suspension and disc brake systems represents a democratization of advanced cycling technology, extending to younger enthusiasts the same control and capability previously accessible only to adult riders. Thematically, this design participates in broader cultural conversations regarding childhood outdoor engagement, physical literacy development, and the cultivation of lifelong recreational practices. The restrained color palette suggests maturity and seriousness of purpose, departing from the garish chromatic treatments frequently applied to children's products in favor of aesthetic choices that respect young users' developing taste while maintaining broad appeal. The meticulous attention to component selection and integration demonstrates holistic design thinking wherein each element serves both functional and experiential purposes. Viewers might contemplate how such objects mediate relationships between children and natural environments, serving as technological bridges that extend human capability while encouraging direct engagement with terrain and physical challenge.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Prevelo Zulu Two Heir is the first 16-inch hardtail mountain bike. It is a trail-capable bike for very young riders. The long wheelbase and slack geometry are forgiving to young riders who are still learning how to ride on trails. Making this bike required a new airfork designed to fit small wheels and capable of working with lightweight riders. The Heir 16 fork is the first airfork designed for 16-inch bicycles and features carbon fiber and aluminum construction.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Wheel Size: 16" inches
Fork: 60mm travel airfork with HM Carbon Fiber and AL6061 lowers and AL7050 hard anodized 30mm diameter stanchions and adjustable rebound, lockout and compression
Brakes: Hydraulic disc
Frame Material: 6061 aluminum alloy
Wheel base: 790mm - Tags
- bicycle, bikes, childrens bike, kids bike, mountain bike, kids mountain bike, 16-inch bike
- Production Technology
- The frame is made of 6061 alloy and incorporates a special low bottom bracket design and short crank lengths to create a bike that keeps the rider low to the ground while maintaining good pedaling ergonomics. The cranks are cold forged aluminum and custom made to our specification for length. The Heir 16 fork on the Zulu Two Heir uses aluminum alloy and carbon fiber construction to minimize weight. The fork utilizes an air spring that can be adjusted to accommodate lightweight riders and adjustable rebound dampening.
- Design Challenge
- Prior to the development of the Zulu Two Heir, there was no air fork available for this size wheel. We needed to develop a fork that would work with a 16-inch wheel. We also spent time researching how children ride on trails. There was little understanding of optimum geometry for bicycles for very young children on trails. We needed to research and observe children riding to understand the best geometry.
- Project Duration
- The project started in 2017 in California. Prototyping completed April 2018. First production bikes available to ship to kids in the United States in November 2018. Continued refinement through December 2021.
- Operation Flow
- This design makes it easier for children to ride on trails.
- Research
- Our objective was to create a bicycle that would make children most confident riding a bicycle on trails. Our primary form of research was watching children ride on trails, and soliciting input from parents that frequently rode trails with their children. In particular watching children ride trails, and experimenting with different geometries and components. We found that children rode more confidently with bikes that were lower, had strong easy to user brakes, and had forgiven geometry and suspension that helped correct for learning mistakes over technical terrain.
- Inspiration
- The design was inspired by watching children learning to ride on trails. We wanted to design a bike that would make children more confident riding on trails. In order to be confident on trails, children need a bike that is forgiving and stable, and has easy to use brakes, and a low center of gravity.
- Image Credits
- Photographer Kevin Wing
- Patents
- "Prevelo" and "Heir" are registered trademarks of Triunfo Sports LLC